Farewell Gerd Zuther

It’s with a very heavy heart that we say goodbye to an incredible member of Team Thailand and a wonderful coach and mentor, Gerd Zuther.

Gerd was an incredibly kind human being and the embodiment of true horsemanship. I first began training with him in 1-2 day clinics and his disciplined approach and firm belief in understanding the fundamentals resulted in an immediate change in how I approached dressage. Gerd helped me so much in the years leading up to the Olympics, developing not just my skills but also my mindset when approaching the arena. He worked with me to think about training both in the saddle and on the ground, teaching me to think critically about my own actions as a rider and understand how those translated to my horses.

It was incredible to watch him work with each horse, understanding the nuances of their personalities (and quirks ) and what they needed to flourish. Every step of the way, Gerd was with us, teaching not just a sport, but a way of life (which earned him the loving nickname “Sensei”).

Whether it was whispering sweet German words into Leon’s ear, or chasing Jazz down to the arena asking him to please, for once “just keep your head still!”, Gerd would do so with an exuberance and energy that amazed us all.

And it’s this light that we will miss most.

So thank you Gerd for spending so many early warm-ups, muddy show days, long barn nights, and Thai family dinners with us.

And to Yvonne Zuther and your beautiful family, we are sending so much love. Thank you for your help bringing Gerd into our lives. We are all the better for it.